Page One

In what some are calling the “Christmas coup” at KPFA’s sister station WBAI in New York, an interim station manager was installed and the station’s program director and a producer were fired Saturday. Tuesday, Pacifica added to the list of persona non grata by banning of at least three more people from the Manhattan station. 

WBAI, KPFA and listener-sponsored stations in Washington, D.C., Houston and Los Angeles, operate under a license controlled by the Pacifica Foundation. In the summer of 1999, Pacifica locked out the entire staff at KPFA, following the firing of a popular station manager and subsequent broadcasts about the firing, which had been banned by Pacifica. The lockout and censorship resulted in daily demonstrations, including one by 10,000 people. The battle between the local station and the Pacifica Board continues today through several lawsuits. 

The situation at WBAI was discussed in a Tuesday morning staff meeting at the New York station where “a strong consensus of the staff” called on the management to reinstate those who had been terminated and barred from the station, according to a person in attendance at the meeting who asked to remain anonymous. 

“The interim manager said that any such readmission would take time and left the meeting before a vote was taken,” the source said in a phone interview. 

There has been no explanation given to those people who have been barred from the station. “The bannings may be in revenge for prior discussions,” the source said. 

Among those not permitted inside the station is Eileen Sutton, a volunteer news producer active in a strike of Pacific Network News stringers. These radio journalists have refused to work for the Pacific News since the news director was terminated earlier this year.  

“I’m honored to be kicked out,” Sutton told the Daily Planet, explaining that she had been given no explanation for her termination. She was told that she could not re-enter the station by people attending the Tuesday morning staff meeting, she said. 

The WBAI audience has been very supportive to the staff, Sutton added, noting “There’s been 150-170 calls each day to a hot line” that updates people on the WBAI situation. 

The installation of Utrice Leid Saturday as station manager came about a month after Pacifica announced the termination of the former station manager. Calling the action “a tyrannical approach of Pacifica,” Northern California board member Tomas Moran said he received no notice of any of the New York actions. Further, Board Chair David Acosta has not responded to his inquiries, he said. 

Moran, programmers and the station’s Local Advisory Committee met Saturday to plan programming to keep KPFA listeners informed of the New York situation. Local Advisory Board members will continue to meet to discuss what kinds of further response should be taken.  

The situation in New York is somewhat different than the one in Berkeley during the summer of 1999. On air programmers are allowed to discuss the situation and only a select few have been locked out. It’s a new way to “spin” the situation, Moran said, underscoring that in both situations the decision-making is not democratic. 

The inside source at WBAI described the situation as one where a half-dozen security guards are scattered inside at various posts, not only to restrict the access of those banned from the premises, but, to watch and listen to those working inside the station.  

“It has a chilling effect on people, on the usual social intercourse,” he said. 

“We’re in Through the Looking Glass,” Moran said. “We’re on the other side of the glass.” 

Pacifica Executive Director Bessie Wash did not return calls on this story. Interim WBAI station manager Utrice Leid, installed in the early morning hours of Dec. 23 and Board Chair David Acosta were also contacted but did not return calls.